AUTOMATED GUIDE AND BLADE SET FOR PROCESSING LAMB MEAT CARCASSES INTO LOIN AND RACK PORTIONS

An apparatus for processing meat carcasses into portions or removing meat from an animal skeleton, including a guide defining a centreline; a pair of dorsal assemblies on either side of the centreline with a substantially vertical dorsal blade positioned substantially in line with the centreline; at least one lateral assembly with a lateral blade and an actuator configured to move the lateral assembly from a position where the lateral blade is adjacent the dorsal blade and extends laterally relative to the guide, to a second position away from the guide; and at least one chine assembly with an upper blade positioned substantially in line with the centreline, and having a downwards facing cutting surface; and a lower blade positioned below the upper blade. The pair of dorsal blades and upper blades are offset from the centreline so that a dorsal process of a carcase potion passes between and against the respective blades. The dorsal blade is biased both laterally and vertically towards the centreline, and a dorsal blade actuator acts against the bias to hold the dorsal blade away from the centreline until released.